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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
War related sexual violence and it's medical and psychological consequences as seen in Kitgum, Northern Uganda: A cross-sectional study
BMC International Health and Human Rights, Volume 10, No. 1, Article 28, Year 2010
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Description
Background: Despite the recent adoption of the UN resolution 1820 (2008) which calls for the cessation of war related sexual violence against civilians in conflict zones, Africa continues to see some of the worst cases of war related sexual violence including the mass sexual abuse of entire rural communities particularly in the Great Lakes region. In addition to calling for a complete halt to this abuse, there is a need for the systematic study of the reproductive, surgical and psychological effects of war related sexual violence in the African socio-cultural setting. This paper examines the specific long term health consequences of war related sexual violence among rural women living in two internally displaced person's camps in Kitgum district in war affected Northern Uganda who accessed the services of an Isis-Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE) medical intervention. Methods. The study employed a purposive cross-sectional study design where 813 respondents were subjected to a structured interview as part of a screening procedure for an emergency medical intervention to identify respondents who required psychological, gynaecological and surgical treatment. Results. Over a quarter (28.6%) of the women (n = 573) reported having suffered at least one form of war related sexual violence. About three quarters of the respondents had 'at least one gynaecological complaint' (72.4%) and 'at least one surgical complaint' (75.6%), while 69.4% had significant psychological distress scores (scores greater than or equal to 6 on the WHO SRQ-20). The factors that were significantly associated with war related sexual violence were the age group of less than or equal to 44 years, being Catholic, having suffered other war related physical trauma, and having 'at least one gynaecological complaint'. The specific gynaecological complaints significantly associated with war related sexual violence were infertility, chronic lower abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and sexual dysfunction. In a multivariable analysis the age group of less than or equal to 44 years, being Catholic and having 'at least one gynaecological complaint' remained significantly associated with war related sexual violence. Conclusion. The results from this study demonstrate that war related sexual violence is independently associated with the later development of specific gynaecological complaints. © 2010 Kinyanda et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Kinyanda, Eugene
United Kingdom, London
Medical Research Council
Musisi, Seggane M.
Uganda, Kampala
Makerere University
Biryabarema, Christine
Uganda, Kampala
Mulago National Referral Hospital
Ezati, Isaac
Uganda, Kampala
Mulago National Referral Hospital
Oboke, Henry
Uganda, Kampala
Makerere University
Ojiambo-Ochieng, Ruth
Uganda, Kampala
Isis-women's International Cross Cultural Exchange
Were-Oguttu, Juliet
Uganda, Kampala
Isis-women's International Cross Cultural Exchange
Levin, Jonathan B.
United Kingdom, London
Medical Research Council
Grosskurth, Heiner
United Kingdom, London
Medical Research Council
Walugembe, James
Uganda, Kampala
Butabika National Referral and Teaching Mental Hospital
Statistics
Citations: 69
Authors: 10
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1472-698X-10-28
e-ISSN:
1472698X
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Violence And Injury
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Uganda
Participants Gender
Female